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Just a quick, cautionary note to everyone planning on traveling to Mexico City for the International AIDS Conference and/or AMG '08...

Mexico City is roughly 7,400 feet above sea level -- 2,000 feet higher than Denver. A lot of people definitely feel this, especially when doing lots of walking and -- make no mistake about it -- after the first round or two of margaritas.

For those of you who require a bit of acclimation time when traveling to high-altitude cities, definitely keep that in mind when making your Mexico City travel plans.

Fortunately, the summer is the best time to go. There's much less smog in July and August, which will help your lungs get used to the altitude much more quickly.

August Weather: The weather will be rainy, heavy at times, everyday from 4 pm or so until quite late. The rainy season is from mid-June until late October with August probably being the worst for rain. Streets flood and traffic backs up. However, it is a great time to be in town. In the mornings, the sky is a perfect blue with no pollution as it all washed away. It gets chilly at night (sweater weather) and can be warm in the day time. (Average highs: 70 ish)source: traveladvisor website/forum chats

Well, it sounds like the weather won't be a problem at all as far as the heat. It sounds amazing, I may really have to try to consider this, maybe save my tax refunds and my addl check from Uncle Sam, with which to stimulate the economy.....

I really appreciate living at / near sea level... especially after my run-in with PCP a while back. You should have seen me climbing up the hill to Coit Tower in S.F. last year! Even the long-time heavy smokers could leave me behind... and I am (was?) in great physical shape! I'm almost tempted to see if I can get my Dr. to Rx me a travel size tank of O2 for the trip! I remember being in Denver years ago (long before HIV / PCP) when I was in my early 30's and in really good shape. A couple of quick trips up and down stairs at the hotel really wore me out. Tim sure isn't exaggerating about the effects of altitude and acclimation to it.

Sounds like this might call for my Cheryl Tiegs-inspired Tom Ford purple nylon YSL jacket. That said, I can't even think of a place of this high altitude I've visited, and I've traveled quite a lot. The only time I've been in Denver, for instance, was to change planes at the airport.

I actually don't mind rain... I find it refreshing and makes for good skin tone.

I echo Tim's caution about not packing too much activities within a few days of flying to high altitude environments. This might actually be a good time to consider perhaps lengthening the # of days for the AMG and spacing out the events. Acclimatization takes time.

Avoid tobacco and alcohol and other depressant drugs including, barbiturates, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills. These depressants further decrease the respiratory drive during sleep resulting in a worsening of the symptoms.

I certainly hope I didn't turn anyone off of the idea of traveling to Mexico City!

For what it's worth, high altitude travel has never agreed with me... but I've always acclimated very quickly when traveling to Mexico City. Just plan on taking it slow -- and being very careful about your alcohol intake (but do drink lots and lots of water) -- for the first day or two. And there's definitely an upside to visiting a high altitude city -- you'll feel like a million bucks upon returning to your closer-to-sea-level homes.

meh... I'm not worried about the high altitude thing. I really am not a big lush anymore, and if I get tired I have no issue taking a nap. I guess, however, we should hold off on any day excursions to those pyramids and do them on the 2nd half of the trip.